With the array of captivating titles that the acclaimed Xbox Game Pass service consistently offers to its subscribers, it is easy for some games to slip through the cracks. Considering the pace at which games are added and taken away from the service, some titles that players may have saved for a rainy day run the risk of being removed too soon, with NieR: Automata being no exception.

NieR: Automata, along with a few other titles, is sadly leaving the Game Pass service this month, meaning subscribers will no longer be able to download and play the title for free. Given the acclaim and grippingly unique nature of NieR: Automata, it would be remiss for subscribers to let this title slip through their fingers without at least giving it a go.

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A Breakdown of NieR: Automata

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NierR: Automata is a highly regarded action Japanese role-playing game, known for providing a highly stylized and thematically unique experience. Originally released in 2017 for the PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One, NieR: Automata was developed by Platinum Games and published by SqaureEnix, a company best known for the influential Final Fantasy series.

NieR: Automata is a sequel to the 2010 title Nier, a game which was also RPG focused and known for its rich story and compelling characters. These qualities were transferred and built upon for the sequel, which is largely considered by many as one of the best JRPGs in recent memory.

The game is set amidst an ongoing conflict between alien machines and human androids in a dystopian reality, with several of these human-crafted androids being the protagonists of the games deep story. Three distinctly different androids take center-stage over the course of three respective playthroughs, with three playthroughs being needed to fully understand the story. Elements of lore and world-building are organically conveyed to the player over the course of these playthroughs, with each of NieR: Automata's endings telling different aspects of the story in a very effective manner.

In addition to this, NieR: Automata is renowned for its excellent gameplay, which is extremely varied and rewarding. Despite being a JRPG at heart, the game is contingent upon hack and slash elements of gameplay, but does not restrict itself to this. Over the course of the three playthroughs available to players, gamers will find themselves embroiled in a variety of genre-bending gameplay sections, ranging from top-down shoot em' ups to text-based adventures, all within an open world setting that seamlessly serves the wider story.

Why NieR: Automata Should be Played Now

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Despite the obvious reasoning of playing NieR: Automata via Game Pass while it is still available to the service, there are several other factors that should influence prospective gamers to try it out soon. Perhaps one of the most pertinent is the upcoming anime based on the Nier franchise.

With the esteemed production studio Animex working on the anime of Nier: Automata, this adaptation is billed to be a successful one, albeit one that has a lot to live up to. Of course, playing the game now before this anime releases will provide prospective watchers with the context necessary to fully enjoy this highly anticipated adaptation.

Regardless of this, the point remains that the legacy and critical acclaim of NieR: Automata makes it a game that is undoubtedly worth playing. With the consistently glowing reviews surrounding NieR: Automata, combined with the financial benefit of avoiding the game's $30+ price tag, Game Pass subscribers should absolutely play the game while they still have the chance.

NieR: Automata is available now on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

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